Utah’s nonfarm payroll employment for October 2019 grew by an estimated 3.3%, adding 51,200 jobs to the economy since October 2018. Utah’s current employment level registers 1,593,200. September’s year-over job growth is unrevised at 3.0%.

October’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate lowered two-tenths of a percentage point to 2.5%. Approximately 41,000 Utahns were unemployed and actively seeking work during October. The national unemployment rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point to 3.6%.

“October is the springboard month for the upcoming holiday shopping season,” reported Mark Knold, Chief Economist at the Department of Workforce Services. “October’s profile helps gauge the consumer’s stance entering this important economic period. Utah’s current strong numbers point to an anticipated collectively healthy and positive attitude.”

Utah’s private sector employment grew by 3.7% year-over with the addition of 47,400 positions. Once again, all 10 of the private sector major industry groups measured in the establishment survey posted net job increases in October.

The largest private sector employment increases were in:

• Professional and Business Services (11,000 jobs)
• Education and Health Services (9,600 jobs)
• Construction (6,900 jobs)

The fastest employment growth occurred in:

• Construction (6.4%)
• Information (5.1%)
• Professional and Business Services (5.1%)

Listen to Chief Economist Mark Knold as he breaks down the October 2019 employment report:

For more information visit our Labor Market Employment Update web pages.

SALT LAKE CITY (Nov. 19, 2019) — Following the release of the October 2019 employment numbers for the state of Utah, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data shows Utah is ranked No. 1 for total job growth in the U.S. at 3.3%. In addition, Utah is ranked No. 1 for private sector job growth at 3.7%. For unemployment, Utah is ranked No. 2 at 2.5%, tied with North Dakota.

BLS data shows Utah rankings as follows:

TOTAL JOB GROWTH

(1)  Utah – 3.3%

(2)  Florida – 2.6%

(3)  Arizona – 2.5%

PRIVATE SECTOR JOB GROWTH

(1)  Utah – 3.7%

(2)  Arizona – 2.9%

(3)  Florida – 2.8%

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

(1)  Vermont – 2.2%

(2)  Utah – 2.5%

(2)  North Dakota – 2.5%

(4)  Colorado – 2.6%

(4)  Iowa – 2.6%

(4)  New Hampshire – 2.6%

(4)  South Carolina – 2.6%

(4)  Virginia – 2.6%

(9)  Hawaii – 2.7%

(10)  Alabama – 2.8%

(10)  Maine – 2.8%

*Source: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/laus.toc.htm